Meet Sarah Donovan

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sarah Donovan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

Finding Purpose: A Journey Through Mental Health and Advocacy for Women

For over 15 years, I have had the profound privilege of working as a licensed mental health therapist in diverse clinical settings. From hospitals and intensive outpatient programs to community health centers, group practices, and yoga studios, I’ve witnessed both the resilience of the human spirit and the systemic barriers that often stand in its way. Through it all, one truth has consistently emerged: too many women feel unseen, unheard, and dismissed when seeking medical care.

This isn’t always the fault of individual providers. Rather, it reflects a system that frequently overlooks the intricate and unique complexities of women’s bodies, minds, and experiences.

Women deserve a model of care that values their individuality and honors every phase of their lives equally. Imagine a world where women are encouraged to approach each stage of life with curiosity and intentionality, rather than rushing through it or waiting until something goes wrong. What if we created space for women to truly be—to feel supported, valued, and whole?

I believe that understanding the truths about womanhood, parenthood and societal expectations is a crucial step toward emotional freedom. Women deserve the chance to define their lives on their own terms, free from guilt, shame, or the impossible weight of unrealistic standards.

This belief inspired me to create Tilted Root, a sanctuary for women navigating life’s most challenging seasons. At Tilted Root, we offer specialized mental health therapy for women, both virtual and “walk and talk” therapy are offered. Our approach integrates evidence-based modalities, including EMDR, trauma-informed and perinatal care, DBT, somatic therapies, and nervous system regulation techniques. We also provide couples therapy to help partners navigate relational challenges, new parenthood, and generational trauma.

Our mission is to equip women with practical tools, personalized guidance, and compassionate support to reclaim their health and purpose. At Tilted Root, we aim to empower women as they navigate parenthood, burnout, and anxiety, fostering resilience and agency in the process.

For me, this work is deeply personal. I am the daughter of a feminist activist who left a lasting legacy before leaving us too soon. As a mother to two daughters, I feel a profound responsibility to carry forward that legacy of advocacy and empowerment. My purpose is to use my expertise and experience to uplift women and enhance their quality of life at every stage.

This is more than a career for me; it is my passion and life’s mission. I am committed to reimagining a world where women’s mental health and well-being are not only prioritized but celebrated.

As Rupi Kaur so eloquently reminds us:
“Our work should equip the next generation of women to outdo us in every field; this is the legacy we’ll leave behind. Progress.”

At Tilted Root, this vision serves as our guiding light. It is the legacy I hope to build—one woman, one story, and one step at a time.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am ecstatic to see what 2025 brings to the growth of Tilted Root.

We are currently accepting individual women identifying clients ages 18+ for virtual and walk and talk therapy in the woods of Maryland.

In addition, we are accepting new couples for virtual couples therapy in the context of parenting or relational issues.

I am delving into my speciality of Perinatal Mental Health and EMDR through continuing education offerings.
In April 2025, Nina Davey, LCPC and I will be offering a virtual training on Perinatal & Maternal Mental Health Through the EMDR Lens.

Sarah is offering a weekly drop-in EMDR Clinical Consultation group starting every Thursday @ 12p starting in Feb 2025. This group will be focused on EMDR, Perinatal & Maternal Mental Health, Burnout and Beyond.

Look out: I am working on a free resource for my website called the “Emotional Registry” which covers important topics to consider before expanding your family, such as family boundaries, invisible labor and career decisions.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Listen to your mind and body; it is your greatest teacher.

2. Mindset – this is everything when it comes to accomplishing your goals.

3. Get Clear – once you are set on your vision, keep it simple, clear and concise. Work smarter, not harder.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

I reached a point in my career where I was physically and mentally burnt out. What led me to burnout was the belief that my self-worth came from my productivity. After this realization in 2023 and still to this day, I have been deconstructing and unlearning this harmful notion about self-worth that is so heavily placed on women in today’s society. I am learning how to accept the different seasons of my life without judgement; lean into the restful times without guilt and accept that I am now working smarter, not harder to bring joy to my life.

It is not happening over night, but I am already feeling a sense of clarity and calm that I never felt when I was not prioritizing this notion.

I truly believe in this quote by Tricia Hersey:
“The end is a well-rested future. Our resistance is the balm for a deeply traumatized world.”

I hope that Tilted Root can have this impact on women and couples.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.tiltedroot.com
• Instagram: tiltedrootcounseling